got a development drone
 

I know, DJI products are better. But I want to learn some autopilot stuff.
I don't know if Ardupilot with the Pixhawk 4 was the way to go or not.

https://i.imgur.com/VKqtPiM.jpg

I'm jealous - I have been wanting to play with this stuff for ages, especially the auto pilot...

I live in the perfect spot - I could literally chuck it of the window and be getting stunning mountain/river views within a hundred meters.....

i cunt a4d2 get a development drone... :(

Got a radio and an FrSky R9SX receiver. Got the firmware setup on the Taranis controller with the help of a youtube video, kind of depressing when I found out the guy has been dead for 3 years.

Just not sure how to connect the receiver to the Pixhawk 4 Flight controller yet.

https://i.imgur.com/J3nY957.jpg

Any pics?

This is taking a long time. Got the wrong receiver for the flight controller. Needed to plug "IO Out" on the flight controller to the "FMU In" on the Power Board. Finally got it to arm. But one ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) isn't working. Got a new one on order.

Positive thing is, My small mind is concentrating on this instead of current events.

Next step. Do some autonomous flights.

I also want to put an arm on it, so I can pick things up off my roof.

$1,300 gets you the latest and greatest (semi-professional) drone DJI has to offer, the DJI Air 2s.

I have one, started with the DJI Mini 2 originally but quickly exchanged it for the Air 2s, and man, it's a beast.

Keep in mind, if you live in the US and want to use the drone for any commercial purpose whatsoever then you need to obtain a Part 107 certification and remote pilot's license. You also have to register any drone over 250g (0.55lbs) with the FAA.

If you live in Canada... good luck.

I've been building little FPV quads. My one I'm putting together this weekend will weigh under 200g with an Insta360 Go 2 camera on board.

I've got a bunch of DJI drones including an Inspire. These little FPV drones that you actually need some skill to fly and control are much more fun.

You can't do this with anything DJI has on the market:

I agree. I have a GEPRC Crocodile Baby. Still haven't got the feel for flying it FPV. I need to go out somewhere where there are no roads nearby. I lose track of where it is in my goggles. They don't just hover when you take your hands off the controls like a DJI.

I may have found a new hobby, tbh

I love my air 2s but the idea of building my own is growing on me ><

I rarely bother with any of my DJI drones anymore.

I've got all the parts to build this out this weekend. Cost was around $100.



These are a blast to fly. I've got parts on order to build a longrange micro hex next.

My biggest concern with these smaller drones is wind. We rarely have wind-free days where I live, and is a major reason I traded up from the mini 2 to the air 2s.

How do these tiny drones handle wind?

Surprisingly well. They're quite powerful and very efficient. You're not getting 20 minute flight times or anything like that. I get 3-5 minutes per battery pack and pretty much just bomb around the town park that is in my backyard.

Companies like BetaFPV, GepRC, Emax and iFlight all have starter kits that include a small quad, the radio and a pair of goggles, all in the $175-300 range.

WOW!. I would have crashed so many times my drone would have been destroyed in the first 20 seconds.

These quads have ducted motors / props, you can bounce them off of anything, including people, safely.

https://www.holler.film/wp-content/u.../cinewhopp.jpg